Dirrell vs Edwards added to Dec. 19 Showtime card

The super middleweight contender will face Derek Edwards in a title elimination bout for the IBF super middleweight championship.

“I’m excited to be back on the fast track and I’m ready to show that this is definitely where I belong,” Dirrell said. “It takes time to move back to the top, but I like to improve myself each time I step into the gym. I almost feel like I’ve been overworking myself in the gym to prove that I’m back. But I feel like I’m there and ready for a title shot, and when the time comes to prove that I’m ready, I won’t leave any doubt.”

It has been an active year for Dirrell. After fighting once in 2013 and being completely inactive in 2012, Dirrell (23-1, 16 KO) will be fighting for the third time in 2014. He won his first two bouts of the year with stoppages over Vladine Biosse and Nick Brinson.

Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KO) scored an upset with a stunning first round knockout of TMT prospect Badou Jack in February.

The bout will serve as the co-feature to the championship fight between Adonis Stevenson and Dmitry Sukhotsky, which takes place on Dec. 19 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City on Showtime as part of a quadrupleheader.